Shanahan praises Pearsall’s ‘impressive’ return from 49ers, positivity originally appeared on NBC Sports Bay Area
In his decades of coaching football, Kyle Shanahan has never seen anything like the 49ers rookie wide receiver. Ricky Pearsall did it this season.
After being drafted by San Francisco in the first round During the 2024 NFL Draft, Pearsall missed most of the offseason program with a lingering shoulder injury. When he was allowed to return, he was shot and killed during an attempted armed robbery on August 31 in San Francisco, just nine days before the 49ers’ Week 1 game.
Miraculously, Pearsall survived the bullet passing through and out of his chest and, more impressively, he was able to return to the field in Week 7.
“It’s been impressive,” Shanahan told reporters after practice Friday. “He’s been impressive since he got here. He had such a setback with the injuries he suffered during OTAs in training camp and then right when he was good and really had his first week of training, which only lasted three days, then he got shot, which is as crazy as anything And then he came back, we needed him pretty quickly, especially losing (Brandon. Aiyuk) at the same time.
“And now, after three weeks, I feel like he’s finally where he would have been if he had been ready for week one if he had practiced all training camp. He So he’s in a very good position, but I think he’s going to continue to improve. He’s always been the same guy, he’s been through as much as anyone since we’ve known him and he’s been the same every day. and I think we all see the impressive footballer too.
Pearsall not only returned to the field to show his face, he played a big role in San Francisco’s offense as the team looks to build momentum heading into a big stretch of games.
The 24 year old scored his first career NFL touchdown in Sunday’s win over the Tampa Bay Buccaneers, another reminder of how incredible his career has been.
Despite so many obstacles so early in his career (and life), Shanahan said Pearsall remained the same spirited man he always was.
“Always positive,” Shanahan said. “He never seemed depressed about it. I never seemed depressed about it and I had every right to. It was a pretty traumatic experience, one that I’m sure he had to get through on his own, in a lot of ways. But just him, he’s a very likeable guy. Every part of our team, from the wideouts to the defense, every type of person.
“He’s just a very positive, upbeat guy and the things he’s been through haven’t changed him at all, which is as impressive as anything.”
